Rotatable and rockable exercising and amusement device



Oct. 19, 1965 L. A. BURLING 3,212,790

ROTATABLE AND ROCKABLE EXERCISING AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed NOV- 19, 1962 LEO A. BURL] NG INVENTOR.

MAW

ATTY

United States Patent 3,212,790 ROTATABLE AND ROCKABLE EXERCISING AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE Leo A. Burling, 11739 SW. Pacific Hwy., Portland, Oreg. Filed Nov. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 238,429 2 Claims. (Cl. 280-206) This invention relates generally to amusement and exercising devices for adults and children, and more specifically to a device of this character in which an occupant may rock back and forth, or by proper manipulation roll entirely over in the nature of a wheel either in forward or rearward travel or by the use of a roller cradle in orbital rotation about a fixed axis, and wherein the occupant rolls over with the device in contrast, for example, to the characteristics of a unicycle wherein means is provided for retaining the occupant substantially in a horizontal plane at all times.

The objects of the present invention are:

To provide a device of the character described which may be conveniently utilized for rocking movement or which may be manipulated to roll completely over one or more times at the will of the occupant:

To provide an amusement and exercising device substantially in the form of a hoop provided with means requiring exercise of the arms and legs of the occupant to remain within the hoop and in a position generally diametrically disposed relative to the hoop during the rocking or rolling operation thereof:

To provide a device of the character described in the form of two identical hoops integrated in spaced relation to each other and incorporating means adjustable at the will of the occupant to limit rocking movement of the device and to prevent a complete rotation thereof or to regulate the extent of the rocking motion:

To provide an amusement and exercising device which may be conveniently and economically manufactured from readily available materials and which will provide such a device which is of sturdy yet relatively light weight construction suitable for safe use by persons of all ages. The new and novel mode of operation of my present invention, complete with its simplicity and compactness, renders it ideal for use as an amusement device wherein and user by reflex musculation exercises his arms, legs, and back muscles, in maintaining a proper or any desired position within the device.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an amusement and exercising device made in accordance with my invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, taken approximately along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing a modification thereof.

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the device with the rocking limit stops removed and supported upon a roller cradle for free rotational operation about a fixed axis in either direction, and

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the roller cradle of FIGURE 7 with the device removed therefrom.

With continuing reference to the drawing, wherein like references of character designate like parts reference numerals 1 and 2 indicate a pair of hoops secured together Patented Oct. 19, 1965 in spaced parallel relation by two diametrically opposed pairs of parallel cross members 12-13, 14-15, and two similarly disposed single cross members 16 and 17.

The cross members 12-13 of one of said pairs and the cross members 14-15 of the other are interconnected respectively by pairs of vertical members 20 and 21 and to these last mentioned members, foot rests or floor boards 22 and 23, respectively, are secured by bolts or the like indicated generally at 25. The two pairs of vertical members 20 and 21 are interconnected by normally horizontal upper and lower parallel pairs of longitudinal members 27 and 28 suitably reinforced transversely by arcuately shaped cross members 30-31, 32- 33, and by similar intermediate cross members 34 and 35 respectively.

The center of each pair of longitudinal members 27-28 is further reinforced by generally radially disposed struts 36-37 secured respectively at their inner ends to central arcuate members 34 and 35 and at their outer ends to the hoops 1 and 2.

The hoops 1 and 2 as wall as all of the cross members 12-17, the longitudinal members 27-28 and the struts 36 and 37 may be formed of metal tubing, or may, if desired, be formed of solid material, and such material may be metal, plastic, or any other material suitable for this purpose which will provide ample strength and at the same time be suitably light in weight to provide a device easily operable by users of all ages.

To the arcuate members 35 of the bottom longitudinal members 28 is secured, by sheet metal screws or any other suitable means, a body rest or support 40 for the body of the user reposing thereon in a horizontal position when the device is in the position shown in FIG- URE 1. A second body rest or support 41 is similarly secured to the arcuate cross members 34 of the top pair of longitudinal members 27. These body rests may be made of sheet metal, plywood or any other suitable light weight material which may be bent into the cross-sectional arcuate shape shown to conform to the arcuate cross members 34 and 35. The body rests are in oppositely disposed parallel relation, but are diametrically offset relative to each other as shown with one end of the bottom body rest 40 being closer to the arcuate cross member 32 than is the corresponding end of the body rest 41 to the arcuate cross member 30, while the op posite end of the rests are in reversed relation to their respective arcuate cross members 31-33.

This offset relation of the body rests provides downward visibility through the longitudinal members 28 be tween the arcuate cross member 33 and adjacent cross member 35 for a person reposing face-down upon the body rest 40, and similarly with the device rotated through degrees, in an operation to be more fully hereinafter described, visibility is provided through the longitudinal members 27 and between the arcuate cross member 30 and the adjacent cross member 34 for a user occupying the body rest 41.

To selectively limit rocking motion of the hoops in either direction, I provide two identical spring frames indicated generally at 45 and 46 made up of two parallel spring arms 47 and 48 interconnected at their outermost ends by cross member 49.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 3, the inner end of each spring arm is secured to its respective hoop by a clamping plate 50 adjustably secured to the hoop by means of bolts 51 extending through the clamping plate, provided with nuts 52 at their top end, and welded at their bottom end, as at 53, to the top surface end of the spring arm. Spaced outwardly from the clamping mechanism just described, and straddling their respective hoop, are two vertical parallel lugs 54 welded, as at 55, to the spring arm to serve as a guide in adjusting the spring frames circumferentially relative to the hoops, and also to prevent any lateral swinging movement of the spring arms and resultant twisting'stresses on the bolts 51.

In the modified form of clamping and stabilizing arrangement shown in FIGURES and ,6, I dispense with the clamping plate 50 and, instead, rely upon two shackle bolts 60 and nuts 61 for securely clamping the spring arm 47A to its respective hoop. The inner end portion of each spring arm is substantially V-shaped in cross section (FIG. 6) to provide an elongated curvilinear cradle 65 within which the corresponding portion of the hoop is securely held by the shackle bolts whose ends extend through the sides of the V which are upwardly inclined sufficiently to provide ground clearance'for the nuts 61. l i i The roller cradle shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, comprises a base having parallel side members 70-71, end members 7273, and any suitable intermediate cross bracing 74 all secured together into a solid frame structure. Roller shafts 75.76 are journalled, respectively, at their ends in bearing blocks 77-78 secured as at 80 to the side frame members 7 0-71.

Secured to each roller shaft by any suitable means such as set screws or the like, not shown, is a pair of spaced apart rollers 82-83 which may be similar to V-pulleys, or the like, for supporting the hoops 1 and 2 and stabilizing the same when in rolling engagement therewith.

By this arrangement, a user may manipulate the device in the same manner as he would with the spring frames 45 and 46 removed but instead of traveling forwardly or rearwardly along the ground will be confined to orbital rotation about a fixed axis established by the rolling support of the rollers 82 and 83.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that with the spring frames 45 and 46 removed from the hoops 1 and 2 and with the device rotated to the left through 90 degrees as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1, a user can assume a starting position by standing, for example, on the fioorboard 22 facing the body rest 40. With his hands gripping the hand grips 66, he can nowstar't the device in rolling motion to the right by pressing his body against the body rest 40 with his head positioned in the proximity of the space between the lower arcuate members 33 and 35. Then by moving his body weight forwardly toward the arcuate member 33 either by gripping that member or by exerting rearward pressure against the hand grips 66, will by such overbalance cause the device to start its rolling motion along the ground as in the full line position shown -in FIGURE 1 in the absence, of course, of the spring frames 45 and 46. In continuing the rolling motion, the users body will be rotated through a head-down position and then back to the starting position at the completion of one revolution and finally into the full line position shown in FIGURE 1, with the body rest 40 now above him, whereupon, he must, by still gripping the hand grips 66 and exercising his arms, lower himself onto the body rest 41 now beneath him. I

When the device is operated with the spring frames 45 and 46 secured to the hoops, as shownfthe device will be limited in rocking motion to an extent determined by the adjusted spacing between the inner ends of the spring frames 45 and 46. Such rocking motion will be yieldingly brought to a halt by either spring frame, coming into contact with the ground as illustrated by the showing of frame 45 in broken lines in FIGURE 1.

In such rocking motion, the arm exercise is not quite as strenuous since all that is required is the pressing of the users body forwardly and rearwardly relative to the bottom body rest 40 by pushing and pulling on the hand grips 66.

While I have shown particular forms of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. An amusement and exercising device comprising in combination,

a pair of vertically disposed hoops of uniform diameter, cross members permanently securing said hoops in spaced-apart concentric relation to each other, at least one pair of substantially diametrically disposed longitudinal members, means rigidly mounting said longitudinal members with respect to said hoops in offset relation to a common diameter of the hoops, at least one pair of cross members of arcuate shape interconnecting said longitudinal members at spaced intervals lengthwise thereof, at least one body rest of arcuate shapein a cross section secured to said arcuate cross members with the ends thereof in spaced relation to certain of said arcuate cross members, centrally disposed handgrips secured to and extending outwardly from said longitudinal members whereby shifting a users body weight lengthwise of said body rest in one direction by a pull on said handgrips into a position of overbalance to one side of the axis of rotation of said hoops will impart rotation to the hoops in said one direction and calculated reverse shifting of the body weight will retard .or stop hoop rotation in said one direction and accelerate it in the opposite direction. 2. An amusement and exercising device comprising in combination,

a pair of vertically disposed hoops of uniform diameter, f two pairs of diametrically opposed parallel transverse cross members permanently securing the hoops in spaced-apart concentric relation to each other, said cross members spaced apart equidistantly circumferentially on both sides of a diameter of the hoops, a third pair of cross members securing said hoops in said relationship and diametrically disposed on a diameter at right angles to the first mentioned diameter, two parallel pairs of similarly dispose-d longitudinal members, means rigidly mounting said longitudinal members with respect to said hoops on said two pairs of transverse cross members, two diametrically opposed body rests of arcuate shape in cross-section opening toward each other and carried by said longitudinal members in offset relation to each other in the direction. of their length, transverse members of arcuate shape secured to said longitudinal members in spaced relation to the ends of said body rests and thereby in position for engagement by the feet of a user, and centrally disposed handgrips secured to and extending outwardly from said longitudinal members, whereby shifting a users body weight lengthwise of said body rests in one direction by a pull on said handgrips into a position of overbalance to one side of the axis of rotation of the hoops will impart rotation tothe hoops in said one direction, and calculated reverse shifting of body weight willretard or stop hoop rotation in said one direction and accelerate it inthe opposite direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/75 Merembeck 27256 /53 Bisner et al. 27257 X 7/63 Campbell 27256 X FOREIGN PATENTS 680,970 10/52 Great Britain.

75 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION. A PAIR OF VERTICALLY DISPOSED HOOPS OF UNIFORM DIAMETER. CROSS MEMBERS PERMANENTLY SECURING SAID HOOPS IN SPACED-APART CONCENTRIC RELATION TO EACH OTHER. AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY DIAMETRICALLY DISPOSED LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS, MEANS RIGIDLY MOUNTING SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOOPS IN OFFSET RELATION TO A COMMON DIAMETER OF THE HOOPS, AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF CROSS MEMBERS OF ARCUATE SHAPE INTERCONNECTING SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS AT SPACED INTERVALS LENGTHWISE THEREOF. AT LEAST ONE BODY REST OF ARCUATE SHAPE IN A CROSS SECTION SECURED TO SAID ARCUATE CROSS MEMBERS WITH THE ENDS THEREOF IN SPACED RELATION TO CERTAIN OF SAID ARCUATE CROSS MEMBERS. CENTRALLY DISPOSED DISPOSED HANDGRIPS SECURED TO AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS WHEREBY SHIFTING A USER''S BODY WEIGHT LENGTHWISE OF SAID BODY RIST IN ONE DIRECTION BY A PULL ON SAID HANDGRIPS INTO A POSITION OF OVERBALANCE TO ONE SIDE OF THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID HOOPS WILL IMPART ROTATION TO THE HOOPS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AND CALCULATED REVERSE SHIFTING OF THE BODY WEIGHT WILL RETARD TO STOP HOOP ROTATION IN SAID ONE DIRECTION AND ACCELERATE IT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. 